United States Senate elections in New York, 1789

The 1789 United States Senate election in New York was held in July 1789 to elect two U.S. Senators to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate. It was the first such election, and before the actual election the New York State Legislature had to establish the proceedings how to elect the senators.

The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and then ratified by the States. On July 8, 1788, the Congress of the Confederation passed a resolution calling the first session of the First United States Congress for March 4, 1789, and the election of U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives in the meanwhile by the States. New York ratified the U.S. Constitution on July 26, 1788.

In February and March 1789, the 12th New York State Legislature (term 1788-89) debated at length "An act for prescribing the times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators of the United States of America, to be chosen in this State" but the Anti-Federalist Assembly majority and the Federalist Senate majority could not agree, and they adjourned on March 3, 1789, without having elected U.S. Senators. Both sides expected to win the State election in April.

On June 4, 1789, Governor George Clinton called an extra session of the State Legislature to convene on July 6 at City Hall in Albany, New York. At the State election in April 1789, for a term beginning on July 1, a large Federalist majority had been elected to the New York State Assembly (65 members), estimated by State Senator James Duane at 42 to 22. The New York State Senate (24 members) continued with a slim Federalist majority.

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